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AF3
flaring gracefully in ground effect.
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| AirFish-3
(AF3)
is a 2-seater recreational craft
operating in ground effect at 1m above water. However, It is capable of
dynamic jumps at 4.5 meter norminal height and at 10m maximum height. Normal
operating
crusie height is at 1 meter. A two cylinder 60kw BMW motorbike
boxer engine
drives an overhead geared six bladed ducted propeller. It was
successfully underwent
flight tests from 1990 onwards in the Germany, the Netherlands and the
USA. |
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The AirFish-3 is of fibreglass and
aluminium composite construction with fabric wings. Within the concept
of a sheltered waters sports craft, the whole unit is designed to fold
up to fit on a car trailer. Crusing at 57 knots the AirFish-3
is about 5 times faster than a
comparable boat. Control of the AF3 is performed by a usual steering
wheel which combines ailerons and rudders for well coordinated turns.
For taking off, apply full power and the AF3 will take-off by itself
when reaching the take off speed of 44 knots. The cruise height is
reached and automatically maintained via trim and engine power. To jump
over obstacles, briefly pull up the steering wheel against a spring
load, and by returning the steering wheel the AF3 will return to the
original cruise altitude in the region of ground effect. Reduce the
engine power and put it on idle, the AF3 will gradually descent to
step-taxi on water and eventually landed in a distance approximately 3
time of the craft length.
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| AF3 Product
Specifications |
Dimensions
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Total
length
Total width
Height
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9.9 m
7.5 m
2.6 m |
| Weights
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Empty
MTOW
Fuel
Crew |
540 kg
700 kg
32 kg
1 + 1
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| Propulsion |
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Engine
Engine Power
No of Propellers
Fuel
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BMW R100
75 HP
6 bladed, 1.1 m dia.
40 liters regular fuel
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| Performance |
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Step taxi speed
Upper hump speed
Take
off speed
Take off wave
height
Min cruise speed
Optimum cruise speed
maneuvering speed
Max cruise speed
Normal cruise height
Max cruise height
Normal jump
Max Jump
Range
Turning Radius
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24 kts
35 kts
44 kts
0.5 m
49 kts
57 kts
65 kts
72 kts
1 m
2.5 m
4.5 m
10 m
410 km
200 m at 18 degrees
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AirFish-3 Ground Effect Kinetic Jumping
The Kinetic jumping capability offers a
very useful collision avoidance response, or an "over the horizon"
scanning function. This has only ever been demonstrated with ground
effect crafts using the Lippisch reverse delta wing design. Under
standard conditions, with full load, by using the kinetic energy during
flaring, jumping
is performed by pulling
back on the steering wheel to deflect the required
control surfaces against a fairly high spring force and against a stop
that limits the elevator deflection. The AirFish-3 shall be able
to jump over obstacles no
greater than 4.5 meters from the surface through the absorption of its
forward speed, or kinetic energy, and then safely descend back to it's
original trajectory. While making a jump
maneuver, the glide angle of the craft changes from being around 30:1
in ground effect to 7:1 whilst jumping. This gives a fairly steep but
still acceptable descent angle. Sustainable free flight is not
possible. If the operator releases the steering wheel, and continues in
the hands-off position, the craft will automatically return to the
craft's initial condition of flaring without being destabilized. If the
craft shall experience an engine-out condition during the jump
maneuver, the craft shall remain stable and shall return automatically
to the flare mode and be able to land with hands-off.
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 AirFish-3 at the
Singapore
Science Center
The
original AirFish-3 prototype ground effect craft which was built by the
RFB Rhein - Flugzeugbau GmbH under license
and consultancy of Fischer Flugmechanik, and underwent
flight tests from 1990 onwards in the Germany, the Netherlands and the
USA, was
acquired by the WigetWorks and is
currently on display at the Singapore Science Center to promote
research interest and awareness of the ground effect technology.
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Clip on the below icons to
view AF3
in ground effect flight.
All videos are best view in 1 x 1 inch
video frame size.
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Copyright
Wigetworks Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved
 123
Genting Lane #05-04 Yenom Industrial
Building Singapore 349574 |
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